Bestimmungsgründe der einkommensverteilung

Summary Determinants of Income Distribution. — This article is intended to prove that the various macro-economic “theories of income distribution” appear to be systematic explanations only because the method of forming models — i. e. the grouping together of private economy elements and their relations to macroeconomic aggregates — obscures important determinants of distribution. This hypothesis is proved in two steps: first, it is shown that the two most important elements of the various distribution models — macro-economic production function on the one hand and macro-economic consumption function on the other — in the way they are usually employed, imply assumptions of constancy which lead either to logical inconsistency in the respective distribution theory or to empirical meaninglessness. Second, it is shown by means of an enlarged two-goods-two-factors Solow model that the various macro-economic distribution theories should be integrated so as to include all the various determinants of distribution. Even the enlarged Solow model cannot be regarded as the foundation of an empirically meaningful distribution theory. Reflection on how to improve this model brought out the necessity of examining the quantitative importance of each one of the various determinants of income distribution. This examination, undertaken for the German Federal Republic, has shown that the influence of demand on income distribution, during the period from 1950 to 1967, was comparatively small.

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Résumé Causes déterminantes de la distribution du revenu. — Cet article cherche à prouver que les diverses ?théories macro-économiques de la distribution de revenu? ne paraissent être des interprétations systématiques que parce que la méthode de construire les modèles — c’est à dire, de grouper ensembles les éléments d’économie privée et leur relations avec les collectifs macro-économiques — cache des facteurs importants de distribution. Cette hypothèse est prouvée en deux temps: primo, il est démontré que les deux éléments les plus importants des diverses modèles de distribution — la fonction macro-économique de production d’une part et la fonction macro-économique de consommation d’autre part — tels qu’ils sont généralment employés, comportent des suppositions de constance, qui causent soit une contradiction logique dans la théorie de distribution y relative, soit une insignifiance empirique. Secundo, il est démontré, au moyen d’un élargissement du modèle Solow à deux marchandises et deux facteurs, qu’il faut intégrer les diverses théories macro-économiques de distribution, si l’on veut tenir compte de toutes les causes déterminantes de la distribution. Même le modèle Solow élargi ne peut pas être considéré comme le fondement d’une théorie de distribution qui soit empiriquement significative. En réfléchissant aux possibilités de corriger ce modèle, il s’est montré nécessaire d’entreprendre des recherches individuelles empiriques sur l’importance quantitative des diverses causes déterminantes de la distribution du revenu. De telles recherches, entreprises pour la République Fédérale Allemande, ont montré que l’influence de la demande sur la distribution du revenu, pendant les années de 1950 à 1967, a été relativement faible.

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Resumen Los determinantes de la distribución del ingreso. — El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en demostrar que las diferentes ?teorías macroeconómicas de la distribución del ingreso? son sistemas explicativos cerrados sólo debido a que la forma en que se desarrollan los modelos y que consiste en agregar variables microeconómicas a nivel macroeconómico, encubre importantes factures determinantes de la distributión. La demostración de esta hipótesis se hace en dos pasos: En primer lugar se muestra, que los dos componentes más importantes de los distintos modelos de distribución, las funciones macroecon?micas del consumo y de la producción, implican generalmente supuestos de constancia que dan lugar a inconsistencias lógicas o que echan a perder el valor empírico. En segundo lugar y mediante un modelo ampliado de dos bienes y dos factures, de Solow, se ense?a que las distintas teorías macroeconómicas de distribución deberán ser integradas la una con la otra si se quieren abarcar todas las determinantes de la distribución. No obstante la ampliación del modelo de Solow, este aún no se presta de base para una teoría del ingreso empíricamente sustancial. Reflexiones acerca de las posibilidades de mejora de este modelo llevan a la conclusión de que es necesario realizar estudios empíricos sobre la importancia de los distintos determinantes de la distribución. Un análisis a este respecto ha sacado a relucir que en la RFA y durante el período 1950–1967, el impacto de la demanda sobre la distribución de la renta ha sido peque?o.

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Riassunto Motivi della decisione della distribuzione dei redditi. — In questo lavoro deve essere dimostrato che le diverse macroeconomiche ?teorie della distribuzione dei redditi? solo per questo formano sistemi esplicativi chiusi perché il modo della formazione del modello, cioè la raccolta di grandezze economiche singole e relazioni con aggregati macroeconomici, cela essenziali fattori di decisione della distribuzione. La dimostrazione di questa ipotesi è fornita in due momenti. Per primo viene mostrato che ambedue le parti più importantidei diversi modelli di distribuzione, la funzione macroeconomica di consumo da una parte e la funzione macroeconomica di produzione dall’altra, nella forma in cui sono solitamente usate, implicano accettazioni di costanti che conducono o ad inconsistenze logiche della corrispondente teoria della distribuzione o ad empirica mancanza di contenuto. In secondo luogo è dimostrato in base ad un ampliato modello due merci-due fattori di Solow che le diverse teorie macroeconomiche devono essere integrate se devono essere rilevati tutti i singoli motivi v decisione della distribuzione. — Anche il modello ampliato di Solow non puo essere ancora considerato corne fondamento di una teoria della distribuzione empiricamente piena di contenuto. Riflessioni sulla possibilità di un miglioramento di questo modello fanno apparire necessario la realizzazione di ricerche empiriche singole sul significati quantitativo dei diversi motivi della decisione della distribuzione dei redditi. Una ricerca di tal genere diede come risultato che l’influenza della domanda sulla distribuzione del reddito della RFT durante il periodo 1950–1967 fu comparativamente scarso.

     

The Search for Flexibility: Skills and Workplace Innovation in the German Pump Industry

The German skill-creation system has been a vital part of the success of its 'diversified quality production' model. Some argue that this success is now threatened by the spread of lean production and that the existing skill-creation system may hinder, rather than help, German manufacturers to restructure. We explore this argument in a detailed study of a nationally representative sample of German pumpmakers. We find that the existence of a highly skilled work-force may deter the adoption of multifunctional work teams, but that countervailing strengths of the German skill-creation system have the potential to help firms develop a new, distinctive German production model.     

Encouraging employees to co-operate: the effects of sponsored training and promotion practices on employees' willingness to work overtime

The ‘mutual-investment’ model argues that when employers invest more in the social exchange relationship between them and their employees, their employees will show more effort. In this paper we relate the ‘mutual-investment’ model to training and promotion (possibilities) and examine if these kinds of career-enhancing measures influence the willingness of employees within organizations to work overtime. To test this hypothesis, a vignette experiment was conducted in five organizations (N = 388; 1,531 vignettes). Multilevel analyses show that employees are more willing to work overtime when their employer has provided for training, when the employee recently was promoted, when the supervisor was supportive in the past and when co-workers approve of working overtime and behave similarly. But we did not find that future promotion chances affect willingness to work overtime.     

Migration Effects of Welfare Benefit Reform

This study tests for a migration response to the implementation of stricter rules for receiving welfare benefits (means-tested social assistance for individuals who lack sufficient work-related income), in the form of mandatory participation in activation programmes in Stockholm town districts. The results give no indications that activation programmes affect the moving choices of recipients of welfare benefits.     

Economic integration, market size and the welfare effects of trade liberalisation

Economic Integration, Market Size and the Welfare Effects of Trade Liberalisation. — This paper examines the welfare effects of regional and global integration in a model where market size matters. Regional integration leads to higher welfare in the countries of a preferential trading arrangement (PTA), but to lower welfare outside. In case the countries also decide to form a customs union (CU), both countries will experience further gains if the creation of the CU means that the average external trade barriers are raised. In turn, the outside country will in this case experience further welfare losses. If it retaliates and creates a trade war, this will lower welfare in all countries. In contrast, global integration mostly benefits both PTA countries and outside countries.     

Methodological choices of HR research conducted in Asia

A twenty-year study of the Human Resource (HR) practices–outcome relationship has found that more rigorous methodologies have been adopted over time. However, several problematic features such as cross-sectional, single-informant, and single-level designs continue to be adopted (Bainbridge et al., Human Resource Management, 2016). Responding to calls for increased contextualization of research by investigating the relationship between the location of data collection and the methodological choices of researchers, this study answers the question “How unique are the methodological choices of HR research conducted in Asia?” Applying content analysis to 241 published articles, we compare internal, external, construct and statistical conclusion validity of studies collected in North America (n=66), Europe (n=95) and Asia (n=80, including 57 studies from China). Results show that despite similarities in cross-sectional, single-informant and single-level designs across regions, research conducted in Asia is mainly undertaken via field studies, using subjective outcome measures at the organizational level, following a post-predictive design. In addition, studies from Asia are more recent, and show a shorter time gap between data collection and publication. Theoretical and practical implications embedded in the dynamic context of Asia in general, and China more specifically are discussed.